bramley parish council...bramley parish council member of the hampshire association of local...

BRAMLEY PARISH COUNCIL Member of the Hampshire Association of Local Councils

Clerk: Mrs Maxta Thomas, PO Box 6967, Tadley, RG24 4XG Tel: 07810 692486

Email: [email protected] Website: www.bramleypc.co.uk

To: Mike Townsend, Planning & Development Manager, BDBC

Joanne Brombley, Planning Policy Manager, BDBC Ruth Ormella, Head of Planning, Sustainability & Infrastructure, BDBC Cllr Mark Ruffell, Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Natural Environment, BDBC Cllr Ken Rhatigen, Leader, BDBC

cc: Cllr Nick Robinson, Bramley & Sherfield Ward Councillor, BDBC

Cllr Chris Tomblin, Bramley & Sherfield Ward Councillor, BDBC

10th October 2020 Settlement Study Part 1 – 2020 The Settlement Study - Part 1 has been produced by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council as part of the Local Plan Review. It considers the sustainability of different settlements across the Borough and groups them into categories. The categories are there to provide a framework for directing housing growth and other forms of development towards those settlements that have a range of services, and access to sustainable transport and employment opportunities.

Bramley has been assessed to be in category 3 alongside Kingsclere, Oakley and Old Basing. This category is considered to be more sustainable for future growth, due to the settlements’ relative size, access to and provision of a greater range of services and facilities, and have a role in providing amenities for residents in other nearby settlements.

In this assessment of the study, we will look at the different comments that show, according to the study, that Bramley is suitable for further growth and make comments to the contrary.

Looking through the study, we will comment on statements made in the different paragraphs.

Paragraph 1.1.2: This states that the study aims to identify the most sustainable settlements in the Borough and the level of suitable growth for each settlement in order to ensure needs are met and that communities can continue to THRIVE, which is a central aim of national planning policy. In the case of Bramley, the word THRIVE is of considerable significance. The latest housing outside of the settlement policy boundary, some 320 houses, has only led to more cars and a choking of the community. Against the other settlements in the category we will try to confirm that this is the case and more housing can only add to misery of existing residents without a complete rethink as to the requirements of the infrastructure.

Settlement Study Part 1 – 2020 Page 2

Part 2 of the Study:- This concentrates on the background of the study. It looks at national policy and guidance. We can only highlight statements which are of considerable significance. Paragraph 2.2.1:- “Sustainable development as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” Paragraph 2.2.2:- States that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out three over-arching objectives of sustainable development, economic, social and environmental, which should play an active role in guiding development towards sustainable solutions. Paragraph 2.2.4:- States” NPPF identifies that for rural areas, planning be responsive to local circumstances and reflect Local Needs. Also, locating housing where it will enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities, identifying opportunities for villages to grow and THRIVE.” Paragraph 2.2.6:- “NPPF identifies the importance of providing healthy and safe communities…….” Paragraph 2.2.8:- “The aspects of national policy suggest that the Local Plan Update (LPU) should plan for additional development in rural areas where it would meet the needs and enhance and maintain rural communities” Paragraph 2.3:- This states the policies of the Local Plan having not categorized previously the areas. In the case of Bramley “200 at least”, Kingsclere at least 50, Oakley at least 150 was the requirement. Bramley has met its requirement over one and half times the requirement as laid down in policy SS5 of the Local Plan, but in so doing then the benefits to the community have been limited. They have not improved the health of the community with the increased traffic through the village, and there have been no improvements to the infrastructure to support the housing. Reports produced by Bramley Parish Council (Bramley Infrastructure and Housing assessment, published in October 2019 and distributed to BDBC officers at the time) give the traffic survey and the poor air quality associated with the heavy traffic through the village. The village is growing in housing numbers; it has met through the developments its local needs and contributed considerably to the shortfall of the housing of the Borough, to the detriment of the quality of life of the existing community. The words “Thrive, maintaining the vitality of communities, providing healthy and safe communities, enhance and maintain rural communities” have as much, if not a greater part to play than just NUMBERS of houses. Part 3 of the Study: - This identifies which settlements should be assessed, and on what basis. Paragraph 3.3.2:- according to NPPF , sustainability of a settlement should be considered in relation to access to services and facilities relating to retail, education, health, social, community and recreation and its access to sustainable transport and employment opportunities. Developments must have accessible services which support the well-being of current and future communities, emphasising local shops, meeting places, open space, sports and recreational venues, public houses and places of worship. Key facilities are:- “Convenience shops, Post Office, Primary School, Public houses, Village Community Hall” In categorizing the different settlements and taking into consideration the Key Facilities, consideration has only been given to “Accessibility to a facility or service from a given settlement as regards distance


from”. No consideration has been given, be it not in the NPPF, as regards the quality of the existing facility, the existing service or the existing position of the facility in the settlement. These factors have to play a significant part in the assessment, not just a number meeting the requirement. This will be illustrated later in the report. Section 3.4: This deals with identifying characteristics for the sustainability categories. The categories are based on whether settlements meet minimum requirements rather than using a scoring system. Paragraph 3.4.4:- The third and lowest tier of service centres (Small Local Service Centres) is smaller centres which generally only meet more localised needs. Bramley has been categorized into “Small localised Service Centre”, which means that its facilities are there to meet localised needs, not support for surrounding areas. Even taking into account the services identified that are important for meeting the day-to-day needs of residents, “Convenience shop/Post office, Primary School, Public House, Community Facility/Village/Community Hall”, then Bramley is falling short in these areas and there are other factors that influence the quality of life of existing residents which have to be considered before Bramley can be identified as an area for more development. Points raised later!! Paragraph 3.4.6:- This defines the “Small Local Services” category:- It has to provide Key Services and Facilities that meet all four of the identified day-to-day functions as listed above and have population of over 2,000 in addition to

• Choice of other shops or services • A GP surgery • A place of worship • Outdoor recreation/sports pitches • Bus service running at least once a day with direct connection to Basingstoke.

Bramley has no choice of other convenience shops – there is just one very small convenience store. It has a bakery for local bread with a small coffee area; it has a surgery which is completely full even after the recent expansions; it has a Church, St James Parish Church; It has Clift Meadow for recreation (The football pitch is a private concern and not available to residents) and the number 14 bus service. Besides the convenience store and bakery, the facilities are on the west side of the railway crossing with the barrier down 40 minutes per hour. The great attraction in Bramley which Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) cite every time is the rail connection to Reading and Basingstoke. However this does not just serve the residents of Bramley, but people from surrounding areas. This in itself causes misery to the residents of Bramley because people using the train service use their cars to commute to the station resulting in on street parking in surrounding streets to the station. There is NO STATION car park in Bramley. Section 3.5:- Assigning settlements to the categories:- Bramley is assigned as being in category 3, “Small Local Service Centre” along with Kingsclere, Oakley and Old Basing.


In no way do the services of Bramley liken to the facilities in the other settlements in the same category. The main attraction for Bramley which is exploited by BDBC and developers is the attraction of the railway connection. Bramley is a stretched out village along the C32 road that connects the A33 with the A340. The road is used as a rat run for travellers going either westward from the A33 to Tadley or for travellers going eastwards from Tadley to the A33. This causes havoc in the main part of the settlement around the railway crossing that has the barrier down for 40 minutes per hour causing long queues of traffic on either side of the crossing. Air quality along the C32 is below acceptable standards. Safety of residents on the footpaths bordering the C32 is compromised. Kingsclere, Oakley and Old Basing are not on a main through road and are away from heavy through traffic. The Key Services for these settlements are safely accessible, unlike those in Bramley. Section 4:- Conclusions. This finalises the categories of the settlements by justifying the analysis of the services. Bramley meets the population size for this category which is the only service it accurately meets. The area, highlighted previously, that makes Bramley attractive is as listed in paragraph 3.5.11; “Settlement contains a mainline railway station”. Analysis of Bramley: Convenience Shop: This lies on the C32, the through road from the A33 to the A340. Whilst giving limited access to commodities, it has only 3 parking spots which are in an area immediately in front of the store (Appendix 4). To leave the parking area, the vehicle has to reverse onto the busy C32. It is only a 100 meters away from the railway crossing. Patrons using the shop using cars, which invariably is the case, park on the main C32, half on the pavement and half on the road. The parking causes traffic to pile up both eastwards and westwards because of single traffic access around a parked car. Compare this with Old Basing, which has two convenience stores off the main road with considerable parking availability. One area has the row of alternative service shops (Appendix 1). In Oakley, the convenience shop is in a row of shops with off street parking associated with the shops. It is a completely quiet area in the centre of the settlement away from any through traffic (Appendix 2). Kingsclere has two convenience shops and a row of shops with off street free parking (Appendix 3). Pubs: - Bramley has one pub which is The Bramley. It caters in the main for drinkers who have an interest in Sky Sports. It is not a place where families can go and have a quiet drink and socialise in comfort. The other settlements in the same CATEGORY as Bramley have pubs where families can have a drink and socialise in quiet, off main road environments. If residents of Bramley want to socialise, then they go to Sherfield-on-Loddon, categorised as a Large Village, which has two pubs providing comfortable surroundings (cars have to be used). Post Office: - Bramley has the Post Office within the main convenience store as listed above. Served by attendants who are associated with the store, not dedicated to the Post Office. Opening hours of the post office are unreliable.


The other settlements have Post Offices associated with the convenience stores but are more easily accessible having adequate free off street parking for its patrons, not on street parking as in Bramley. Village/ Community Hall: - Bramley has more than sufficient services in this area: The Village Hall with adequate off street parking, and Clift Meadow which has the Pavilion and Brocas Hall with off street parking. Primary School: - Bramley has the primary school which services not only Bramley but surrounding areas. Spaces available within the school are near to full. Without extensive extension, it can be considered to be full. Serving Bramley and the surrounding area causes havoc on the roads as parents use cars for dropping off children. Its situation on a narrow country road adds to the havoc on the roads and the danger to residents, whilst adding to the poor air quality in the surrounding area. GP Surgery: - Bramley has a surgery which is full even after the recent extension that resulted from S106 monies from the 200 house development at Minchens Lane. It not only serves Bramley but surrounding communities. Transport: - Bramley has a bus service to Basingstoke and Tadley which meets the requirement of “at least once a day Monday to Friday”. However the attraction of Bramley specifically is the railway connection, but as highlighted previously, this causes havoc in and around the level crossing with cars parked on streets by commuters. There is NO railway parking available in Bramley. CONCLUSIONS FROM BRAMLEY POINT OF VIEW Bramley meets the Service and Facilities criteria as laid down, but in meeting that criteria, consideration has to be given to the Quality and Position of those existing services and their capability of coping with further developments and the associated influx of more residents, more cars etc. In that respect, Bramley as explained above is not in a satisfactory position to take more housing without a considerable re-think as regards the existing facilities, how they can be improved and expanded to make the quality of life of existing residents and future residents good. The Vision for Bramley as per the Bramley Neighbourhood Plan is:- In 2029, Bramley will be an attractive village with a strong historic character, an unspoiled rural setting, excellent and conveniently located community facilities, a range of high quality homes fulfilling local needs, safe and convenient access to transport services and green spaces and good opportunities for locally based employment. Praised by the Inspector in accepting the plan as being comprehensive and achievable, the BDBC categorization of Bramley as being a sustainable, expandable settlement is going to destroy Bramley under the terms of the study. Bramley requires a realistic analysis as to what it requires to accept future expansion, to THRIVE and grow, and this planning is not within the capabilities of any Parish Council without expert input from planning personnel. Do not just build houses for the sake of numbers but consider the impact it will have on the present and future residents.


Bramley also prides itself with having two Conservation Areas, one on the west side and the other on the east side of the railway crossing. Any housing development has not in any way to be to the detriment of these areas. This has to be of prime importance in maintaining the Rural, Village Characteristic of Bramley. Maxta Thomas Clerk to Bramley Parish Council


Appendices

1) Old Basing

The row of shops in Old Basing. A convenience store, Post Office, hairdresser and chinese takeaway. Parking for 11 cars, all off the road.

The second convenience store in Old Basing. Parking for 9 cars, off street parking. Old Basing has 3 pubs, a dentist, a fish and chip shop, a junior School as well as a primary school; all except for one pub and the fish and chip shop/restaurant are off a main road.


2) Oakley

The convenience store in a row of shops including a butcher, pharmacy and a coffee shop/café. Off street parking in a one way system in front of the shops for 14 cars

3) Kingsclere

Two convenience stores, a chemist, a butcher, a coffee shop/café, 3 pubs. Free off street parking for 23 cars but 75 meters from the shops. Further free parking for 40 cars at the Fieldgate Centre 400 meters from the centre Photography studio is near the centre. All facilities in the centre of the settlement which has the main road, the A339, bypassing the settlement


4) Bramley

The single convenience store/Post Ooffice on the C32. Parking for 3 cars off road, with on street/pavement parking. The C32 is the rat run from the A33 to the A340.

From 21st September 2020 to the 5th October 2020, the Speed Indicator Device positioned outside the village hall on the west side of the level crossing facing eastward toward the level crossing counted 48,178 cars. That is an average of 3,211 cars per day. That is one direction only passing the One Stop Shop!

Looking toward the convenience store with on street/pavement parking. The convenience store is 100 meters from the level crossing to the west of the store on the main road through the village, the C32. When the barrier is down (40 minutes per hour), the cars travelling westward can be queuing near a half mile along the C32 waiting to cross the railway. When the barrier clears, traffic from the west will have to queue along the C32 if there are cars parked at the store on the road/pavement because the road cannot accommodate the width of 3 cars. Cars can be stuck on the railway crossing.

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